MLB Rumors

The Blue Jays are expected to promote Double-A pitcher Sean Nolin to start Friday's game against the Orioles, according to Sportsnet, choosing the left-hander over Chad Jenkins, who was considered the front-runner to make the start. Jenkins, who won in his only start May 12 at Boston, has been available out of the team's bullpen.

Blue Jays starting pitcher prospect Sean Nolin has been scratched from his Thursday start for Double-A New Hampshire and is expected to be promoted to start Friday against the Orioles, according to Sportsnet. Chad Jenkins was considered the front-runner to start Friday.

Nolin, who missed the first month of the season with a groin injury, is 2-0 with a 1.17 ERA and a .250 opponents' batting average in three starts for New Hampshire. He has 16 strikeouts in 15 1/3 innings. The left-hander was 10-0 with a 2.04 ERA and .218 opponents' batting average in 20 starts (18 outings) between Class A and Double-A last season. He struck out 108 batters in 101 1/3 innings.

Astros outfielder J.D. Martinez has been thriving at the plate since being named the everyday left fielder. Martinez is batting .345 (10 for 29) with two home runs, four doubles and seven RBI in his last nine games (eight starts).

"I'm feeling good," he said, per MLB.com. "I feel like I've been hitting the ball hard, not just (Wednesday) but the last couple of series. I feel like I'm going up there with my plan and approach and I'm not changing it within my at-bat and constantly changing plans like I feel like I have in the past."

Even with the news Mariners catcher Jesus Montero is being demoted to the minors, prospect Mike Zunino is expected to remain with Triple-A Tacoma, according to The News Tribune. Tacoma backup catcher Jesus Sucre is being promoted to take Montero's roster spot.

Following a torrid start, Zunino has cooled off considerably for Tacoma, seeing his batting average plummet to .220. The News Tribune said Zunino is no longer seeing a steady diet of fastballs inside the strike zone and has struggled with breaking and offspeed pitches, as well elevated fastballs with two strikes. It signals Zunino isn't ready to play regularly at the major-league level yet.

The Mariners are expected to demote catcher Jesus Montero to Triple-A Tacoma, according to The News Tribune, which means Kelly Shoppach takes over as the starting catcher. Jesus Sucre is being recalled from Tacoma to be the backup catcher.

Shoppach, who has started the last three games at catcher, is batting .229 through 23 games. In fact, he's batting .163 (7 for 43) in his last 13 games.

The Mariners are expected to promote Triple-A Tacoma catcher Jesus Sucre to take the roster spot of Jesus Montero, who is being demoted to Tacoma following a slow start, according to The News Tribune.

Sucre, who has been backing up prospect Mike Zunino at Tacoma, is batting .302 with one double and five RBI in 14 games.

Sucre is expected to back up catcher Kelly Shoppach for the Mariners.

The Mariners are expected to demote catcher Jesus Montero to Triple-A Tacoma Thursday and promote catcher Jesus Sucre from Tacoma to take his roster spot, according to The News Tribune. With prospect Mike Zunino at Tacoma, the News Tribune suggests Montero will see more playing time at DH and first base.

Montero is batting .208 with three home runs and nine RBI in 29 games. He hasn't started since Sunday, with Kelly Shoppach taking over behind the plate.

Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera homered for a third straight game Wednesday against the Indians, but this time he got an assist from Michael Bourn. The veteran outfielder tried to make a play on Cabrera's fly ball in the eighth inning, but as he leapt on the warning track to reach up for the baseball, it appeared to hit the inside of his glove before going over the wall for a two-run homer.

"It's one of those freak things that happens," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said, per MLive.com. "You see it now and then. You don't see it that often."

Cabrera has hit safely in eight straight games and all but one of 19 May games. His slash line in May is .418/.489/.848/1.337. He also has seven doubles, nine home runs, 10 walks, 16 runs and 24 RBI.

Orioles catcher Matt Wieters said it will be his job to keep rookie pitcher Kevin Gausman from getting too amped during his major-league debut Thursday against the Blue Jays, according to MASNsports.com.

"It's kind of my job every night, to try to get those pitchers in the mindset to where they can have the most success, especially with a young guy coming up," Wieters said. "Just make him feel like, don't worry about the results at the end of the game. Just go about your business and go pitch by pitch, and that's the best way to get through the game. And then you can sit down and think about it after the game's over."

Wieters also provided a scouting report on Gausman, who is one of the top pitching prospects in baseball.

"He's a kid who's got great stuff," Wieters said. "He's able to mix in his offspeed stuff, which, for a young guy to have secondary pitches he can throw for strikes is big for him. On top of that, being able to locate his fastball is going to be key. He'll have adrenaline going, but the big thing is just being able to harness it. And once you get through that first inning, it's just back to settling down and pitching."

Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington hinted Thursday during a radio interview with WEEI the team probably won't engage in contract talks with outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury until after the season. Ellsbury is eligible for free agency in the offseason.

"It’s just, in this case, we agreed before the season that we would defer (contract negotiations) until the end of the season," Cherington said. "That’s our expectation right now. You never say never. Things can change. But our expectation is we pick up the conversation after the season.”